The Next Turning Point for Iran?

News from Iran is quickly receding from the 24-hour news cycle, but the situation in Iran has not gone back to normal. In fact, this coming weekend may be a turning point in the protests. Neda Salehi Agha Soltan, the murdered student who has become a martyr to many in the protests, was killed on June 20. Speaking from London, Iranian journalist and writer Azadeh Moaveni pointed out that Shi'ism traditionally commemorates a person on the seventh day and the fortieth day after a death. “In politics in Iran,” said Moaveni, “these are very important events, because people will turn out for these commemorations, and then they turn into protests.”

This weekend marks the seventh day after Soltan’s death, and the Iranian government has tried to tamp down on remembrances. The British Times reported, “The authorities had already banned a public funeral or wake and have prevented gatherings in her name while the state-controlled media has not mentioned Miss Soltan's death.”

The question, according to Moaveni, is “Will [the protests] flare up again in response to the emotional outpouring for Neda?”

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brock b.

6/27/2009 3:21:58 AM

But that vision also sent another signal to Iranians: that in the battle of the streets, those who take Ahmadinejad's side are justified because the Supreme Leader has reiterated his support for the President. It was a thundering warning to the hundreds of thousands who wear green: Get off the streets. And the usually cool Supreme Leader knew he was delivering an ultimatum. He appeared angry and hot, at one time telling people who seemed to be interrupting him to keep quiet. And the sermon ended with weeping, with the Supreme Leader telling his people that he loved them more than they know. The coming days will show what that love is made of. For more information, visit this site: http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/06/24/payday-lenders-robbed-kansas-wisconsin/